fter 20 years of service, we can truly say that the opening of Santiago in Cali was a providential blessing for the Xaverian Missionaries. We open the parish, and yet we open ourselves to a different reality than Buenaventura, a reality which characterizes much the people of Colombia; we walked side by side many people, responding to the needs of the life in these Barrios.
Our presence in this “District of Aguablanca” goes back to 1984, when Frs. Josè Jemènez Marin and Ivan Marchesin began their pastoral work. At that time, the whole district was made up of 300,000 people, coming from different regions of Colombia, who were escaping the daily violence for a better life in the city. It was indeed the forgotten outskirts of Cali, result of political fanfare and speculations, lacking of basic human needs, like water, electricity, roads, schools, etc…
In a few years, structures and works blossomed: the college, a church, the rectory, the clinic, a gathering space, etc. We even went so far as building two more churches in different Barrios, which all became part of this parish which we call St. Francis Xavier Cali, Valle.
The parish soon became a point of reference for the people involved and the response to the needs of the precarious situation of the district of Aguablanca. The College became the unexpected gift to the community: it was founded with the purpose of providing basic education to small children; yet it developed to be a place of human, Christian and professional formation and training for all the children of the Barrios. It upgraded to High School, involving the community, youth and families in the human, Christian and social promotion. Both parish and College influenced tremendously the self-esteem of the youth, the gifts of each individual for the service of the larger community, and open horizons which promise a better future for all.
Any gathering is an occasion for bringing the Good News, through Bible school, the catechesis, the various activities, and the Liturgical celebrations. For this reasons we build our Parish with this network of small Christian communities who meet in our streets and our homes to witness their faith with joy and enthusiasm.
Another strong aspect of our parish are the small Christian communities, with their biblical and ecclesial formation, their generous contributions of time and talents, the “missions” in our houses, their joyful celebrations, and their profound faith. They have indeed helped the Parish to be sincere and firm in its commitment to following Jesus Christ and its service to the larger community.
The parish of Aguablanca was also promoter of the “Pastoral Plan” envisioned in 1986-1994 meetings, giving joyful witness to priests and laity to the call of the Gospel in the churches in Cali. Once again, our priority is the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus, for the New Evangelization calls us to a personal, mature encounter with Christ. “We need to introduce Christ among our people, who still do not know him, who at times practices forms of devotions that do not help towards a mature response to Christ. In the deepening of our witness (not only in theory) of our faith, we will see God and serve our brothers and sisters.”
Any gathering is an occasion for bringing the Good News, through Bible school, the catechesis, the various activities, and the Liturgical celebrations. For this reasons we build our Parish with this network of small Christian communities who meet in our streets and our homes to witness their faith with joy and enthusiasm.
We want to walk with them, in a personal manner, so that our meeting with Christ may bring fullness and serenity of life, and a commitment to our realities, here and today. We walk together with the local church, never apart, and suggest new directions for today’s life in Colombia.
Cali is surely a great gift from God, and an honor for the Xaverians who walk side by side with many people of Aguablanca, on this difficult soil of this District, and believe in building the Reign of God.
(From Misioneros Javerianos de Parma)